Movable sealing strip for doors and the like



Jan, 3, 1933. c. G. JoHNsoN MOVABLE SEALING STRIP FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed April l2. 1929 l Patented Jan. 3, 1933 GLABENGE G. JOHNSON, OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA IOVABLE SEALING STRIP FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Application Med April 12, 1928, Serial No. 289,476. Renewed May 27, 1932.

The present invention pertains to a movable sealing strip which is acted upon by a closure member such as a door or window for the purpose of sealing the lateral spaces between such member and the sides of its frame when the member is in closed position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a construction of this character which operates automatically when the clolo sure member is brought into closing position.

The invention has been developed more particularly for use in connection with garage doors of the sliding type., wherein the door may be comprised of hinged sections which roll on a track, although the principle of the invention is applicable also to closure members generally such as windows and sliding doors of various types.

The invention embodies movable sealing strips which are preferably engaged in moldings fixed to the vertical sides of the door frame. Each such strip has a floating support in the molding and is formed with teeth which are received in the notches of a rack .25 ixedly mounted in the same molding.w The base walls of the notches slope downwardly towards the door, and inl consequence of this arrangement the strips will be moved towards the door if a downward pressure is applied to them. This downward pressure is derived from brackets carried by the door and engag- I ing the up er ends of the strips when the door comes to c osing position. The sealing strips are normally retracted from the door, i. e. when the door is not in closed position, by springs exerting an upward pressure on the strips.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of 4o' example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a door con-Y struction according to the invention Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of l the door and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 a Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of Figure 1 and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modified construction.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In the figures is illustrated a door 1 of con- Ventional design provided at its vertical edges with vertical track sections 2 which mer into upper horizontal track sections 3 as 1n the usual type of overhead door. The' frame may be closed or covered by a door consisting of sections 4 hinged together on horizontal axes asl at 5 and equipped with rollers 6 6 which ride in the tracks 2, 3.

To each of the lateral members 7 of the frame 1 is secured a molding 8 preferably on the inner side thereof. The molding is formed with a longitudinal cavity or furrow 9 in which is fixed a rack member 10 as by means of nails 11. The rack has notches 12 facing the door when in closed position, and the lower walls or bases 13 of the notches slope downwardly and towards the door as 7 clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Each molding 8 also contains in its furrow 9 a sealing strip 14 having a floating su port therein.

This ioating support is obtained by roviding the strips withtransversepinslw ich are received loosely in comparatively larger apertures 16 formed in thesides of the molding. Each sealing strip has teeth 17 pro-x jecting into notches 12 and slidable on the inclined bases 13 thereof. It will now be ap- 80 parent that this formation of the notches permitsthe strips to slide downwardly and towards the door.

Such movement is desiredwhen the door comes to closing position and is obtained in a positive manner by means of brackets 18 A fixed to the upper edge of the door and en- `gageable with the upper ends of the strips 14 when the door closes. The lower end 19 of each strip is spaced considerably from the floor 2O as shown in Figure 1, and the length of the teeth 17' is suilicient to permit the sealing strips to come into actual contact with the door when the latter is closed. The strips are normally retracted from the door, to avoid tightness, by means of springs 21 inserted beneath the lower ends 19 thereof and upon the floor 20.

The apparatus for operating the Strips is substantially concealed in the moldings 8,

but if a cheaper construction is desired, the racks andl strips may be exposed, as their operation is not affected thereby.

It will also be apparent that thersprings 21 may be positioned otherwise than as shown, in any manner to exert an upward pressure or tension on the sealing strips 14.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 5 the fixed molding 8 secured to the frame 7 has a different form of strip and actuating means therefor. The fixed rack 10 ofthe previous figures is replaced by a wedge member 10 which tapers towards the upper edge of the door frame, or in other words, in the direction in which the door moves towards opening position. The toothed strip 14 of the previous figures is replaced by a Wedge shaped strip member 14 cooperating with the wedge 10 and tapering in the opposite direction. The strip carries pins 15 receivedi in larger openings 16 in the mold-k ing 8 whereby to permit slight play of these stri s in the manner presently to be descri ed. In other' respects the construction is similar to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 4.

When the door 4 comes to closing position, the brackets 18 at the upper edge thereof engage the strips 14 at opposite sides 0f the door frame, and cooperation ofthese strips with the wedges 10 results in movement of the strips towards the door..

Springs 21 seated in the lower ends of the strips 14: tend to raise the latter and thus move them out of Hrm engagement with the door when the upper ends of the strips are relieved from the pressure of the brackets 18.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. s

What I claim is Y 1. In combination with a frame and a `closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the same, a rack fixed relativelyto said frame, a sealing strip supported in a Hoating manner relatively to said frame and engaging said rack for movement towards said closure member, and means carried by said member for actuating said strip when said member comes to closing position.

2. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover andv uncover the same, a rack fixed relatively to said frame, a sealing strip supported in a Heating manner relatively to saidframe and engaging said rack for movement downwardly andY towards said closure member, and a bracket at the upper edge of said member and adapted to engage the upper end of said sealsure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the same, a rack Hxed relatively to said frame and having notches with lower walls sloping downwardly towards said closure member, a sealing strip supported ina floating manner relatively to said frameand having teeth slidably engaging said walls, and means carried by said member for actuating said strip when said member comes to closing position.

6. In combination with a frame and a door slidably mounted therein, a molding fixed to said frame, a rack fixed within said molding, a sealingstrip mounted in a Heating manner within said molding and guided by said rack. said strip being adapted to move downwardly towards said door, and means carried by said door for depressing said-sealing stri 7In combination with a frame and a door slidably mounted therein, a molding xed to said frame, a rack fixed within said molding, a sealing strip mounted in a Heating manner within said molding and guided by said rack, said strip being adapted to move downwardly towards said door, a bracket carried by said door and adapted to depress said sealing strip, and springs acting on said strip for normally raising the same.

8. In combination with a frame and a door slidably mounted therein, a molding fixed to said frame, a rack fixed within said molding,

a sealing strip mounted in a floating manner i within said molding and having teeth inengagement with said rack, said rackl being adapted to guide the strip downwardly towards said door, and means carried by said door for depressing said strip 9. In combination with a frame and a closure member slidably mounted to cover and uncover the Isame, a member having sloped surfaces fixed relatively to said frame, a sealing strip supported in a floating manner relatively to said frame and engaging said meme@ CLARENCE G. JQHNSON 

